Stoker



July 31, 1923.` 1,463,301

L. R. STOWE STOKER Filed July 17 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arme/vm L. R.STOWE sToKER July 3l, 1923. 1,463,301

Filed July 17. 1919 4 sheets-'sheet s WIr/v6.75 /M/wrae @ds'zam Ey n QJuly 31, 1923. 1,463,301

, L. R. STOWE STOKER Filed July 1'? 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 blgd'zve.

' mfG/vraie.-

NEXS.

To all wim/m it ,may concern? Patented July 31, 1923.

j UNITED STATES f LoYD n. sToWE, or MArLnwooD, iviissounr.

' sroxnn.

Application led July 17, 1919;4 Serial -N`o. 311,455.

Be it known 'that I, Lori) R. S'rown. a citizen o f the United States,residing at Maplewood, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri,have invented certain new vand useful Improvements in Stokers, vof

which the following is a specification.

This'invention relates to improvements in automaticstokers and itspurpose to pr vide a stoker of the chain grate type in which a pluralityof independentsets of fuel feeding devices are` actuated to maintain asubstantially uniform thickness of fuel overv the grate while at thesame time securing a` positive feed of the fuel. The principal object ofthe invention is to provide a chain grate stoker having a plurality ofindependent sets ofgrate chains which are actuated. simultaneously butat different speeds.A A

further object is to provide a grate having vtwo series of cha-insarranged with their upper surfaces in different planes inforder.

to regulate the speedV of travel ofthe fuel and to build up the fuelbedV adjacent the discharge end ofthe grate, thereby overcoming-a defect.which is present in' chain grates of the usual type. Another importantfeature of the invention is the provisionof improved means .forsupporting and ,actuating the grate chains These and other objects willbe understood more fully from the following specilication taken with theaccompanying Idraw-- the vposition :of thechainsbeing shown dia- .on theline 3-3 of' Fig. l; Fig. et shows a transverse sectional viewongrammatically; y

v -Fig. 3 shows a longitudinalsectional view- Fig. 5 showsa'transversersectional view on,

the line 5 5 of Fig. 3

Fig. 6 shows a transverse sectional view on the line (i1-6V 0f Fig. 3;

. Fig. 7 shows a transverse sectional .viewfo'n the line 7 7 (if-Fig. 3;Y

Fig. 8 showsa partial perspective View lof one of the side frames ofthestoker;

Fig. -9 shows a perspective view of one -of the skidsby which the upperstretches of and lower ends ofthe grate,H f

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified' form ofskid which islocated above center frame; and

grate'/ chains.

In the accompanying drawings 'the stoker' is shown mounted onafoundation 15 lof concrete Vor the like whichcomprises Van'upper ledgeor step 15' at the forward endfof the Y the chains are supportedbetween, the upperA Fig. ll is a plan view of'a portion ofthe Y Stoker,a lower ledge 15b atthe rear'thereof,l i I and anupwardly lextendingabutment 15c at thel rear-'end of the grate; Ihe foundation*l isprovided with a conduitll having a gatef valve 17 located therein tocontrolthe sup` ply of compressedair to the underside of; the grate. Avertical extending fire brick bridge wall 1,8 is locatedI at therearendof'l the grate and theeash-p'it 19is located bey-' tween thebridge wall and the rear-.end of the foundation i5.Theistokerris,io'caieii between the usual'side walls 20 of frebriclar'M80 The stoker mechanism, issupported priar the like...

marily by apair vofjside frames 22 which aref foundation andv vprovidedwith upwardly e-X- tending plates 22l at the forward end of thfe.

furnace. An ignitionfarch 23 is located above the grate at theforwardlend of the furnace member and thefuel is suppliedto the grate,fromV a hopperf24 which islocated between the partsf 22a of the sideYframe a't supported on the ledges'l; andflc'of the,

the forwardfend of the ignition arch. f The hopper has an` inclinedvlower wall 25and the discharge of Vfuel through 'tle outlet opening 26is regulated by 'a vertically ad.

justablegate 27. A sheet "metalend'wall-l V28feiitends,between thesidelframes at'the forward 4.end of. the stoker toA incloslev thestokermechanismandcon-finefthe airblast l which is supplied to theundervside of .th e I grate.H n The vstoker mechanism comprises twoseries ofgrate chains iOjand'Sl, the chains of one series being arranged toalternate with those'oftheother series across the furnace.

At the upper orforward of the 4stokenv thechains 30 vare mountedonf'sp'rocket gears,

1 32 which are secured'to the transverse shaft 33. This shaft isjournalled -inlbearingsf 34::

'carried by the side frame members 22 and is actuated bya worin wheel 35securedftoth'ei projecting end thereofgatV one side offth'e Stoker. Theworm wheel 35 is actuatedby lower curved extremity 76a thereofl isadapted.- to rideupon the lower stretches ofthe'chains.V 3() and 3l4above theftran'sverse' abutment 15.

The chains and 3l are'each Tformed of a plurality yof lgroupsfof-links78 which are connected by transversepins 7 9 .,anvdbushek ings 79"and-'the inner linksrofI each"V group are cut away 'on their innersides to form're cesses 301. and Blaftore'ceivethe.sprocket gears 32,44, and upon' which the chains are mounted. The-'lower curved .portionarof the baflie-plate 76 is 4providediwith depending flanges 76hwhich-.are adapted toengage the recessesv BOalan'd B14-.of the grate.chains. The baffle-plate andthe parts thereof l which cooperate withthegchainthus prevent the flow of compressed airv lfrom the chamberbeneath thegrate intol the ash'pitf19. The.

draft of the furnace is thus 4confinedand compelled to flowvthroughtheapertures in the chains which' areformed by grooves l80 in thesidesof the links 7-8 lAfter passing the abutment 15c and .the-baflie-platef?6, the lower stretches of `the chains -30 ,and 3l are supported ontubular rollers82 which 'areadapted to rotate on' rods 831extending beymove at a lower speed to.have agreaterv tween each'of the sidefframesandthe center` fra'me.- In the operation ofthe stoker the fuel isdischarged from 4the hoppen-24k` onto the upper end-of grate and is thenmoved down--l Wardly by the action-of chains SO and 31.3 Sincethe chains31 project above the chains in the upper part of the,` gratefitwillfbeapparent that the -chains 31will have a greater' effect in feeding thefuel 1n the'upper area ofthe stoker and-in order ,to secure arelatively. rapidfeed; of the fuel at this point,

the chainsBl are preferably actuated ata greaterspeed than the chains'30, this being accomplished through. suitable operation ofVthe-me'chanism,by` .which-the .shaft 33 is driven.v` Toward the lowerend .ofY the 'grate the chains '3 1 are depressed below the .chains 30thus permitting thelatterlchains which influence .in controlling the."rate ofv feed'Y v of the fuel. This results ina retardation of the fueladjacent the discharge end of the grate so that thethickness.ofthe fuel,bed vis builtl upradjacent-'thebridge wall., TheelfeCt of' thediference-linpspeed ofthe. two `sets of.l chains vand Vof the.difference infelewation'fof` the upper' surfaces vthereof-in letardingthe i fuel toward :the vlowerend off the -grate7 is.

augmented bythe curvature voffthe upper grate surface.4 The body.portion of the grate surface preferably has algeneral inclination jwhich approximates the anglefof .repose but in-practice itis found thatan anglegofabout, 20 to the'horizontal-fis satisfactory for fthe body`portion .of the grate ,depending upon the conditions'ofoperationzand thefuel used. This inclination is' decreased tow-ard the lower end oftheVgrate;- in order to? effect a retardation of the* fuelv and to prevent..the y discharge of theA fuel over the lower end fof the grate untilithas been completely. con-v4 sumed. -By means ofthe'construction hereindescribed it is possible lto maintain a proper regulationoftherate ofthe fuel feed in all parts of the area of the grate jandto'maintain thatcondition of thefuel bed Whichis most suitable for a proper compositionof the fuel. f The construction of the grate and the ar-g rangementofthe upper. stretches 'of' the chains also effectsA an agitation of.the fuel to break up vclinkersand prevent the forma; tion thereofthereby maintaining an open and porous conditionpof theffuel bed. Q 4

Although Ihave' shownand described a single embodiment of. the.invention for purposes of illustration it will .be understood thatitmay be eonstructediin various other of the uppersurface ,of kthechains of the other series, the chains of one series being arrangedtoalternate laterally across the grate with the chains of the `otherseries. Y

` 2.' The combinationinfalstoker of two series-of grate `chains, :thechainsgof one series beingarranged 4tolalternate laterally across thegrate vwith fthechainsk ,of the .other series, the upper surfacesofthechains of one series projectingabove the; upper Vsurfaces o f thechains'ofthet otherseries. .-8. The combination. vin a ,stokerrofxtwoseries-of grate 'cha-ins, the Vchains .,of, one.

series beingarranged to alternate'laterally across the grate with thevchains of the other series, the upper surfacesofthe chains -of iononeseriesprojecting above the upper. surf faces ofthe chainsof the otherseries,` and means for actuating the chains-of one series independentlyof ythechains ofthe other series; 1.4..l`he series ofrelatively:narrowgrate chains', vthe chains of one Vrseries :being`arrangedto; alternate laterally across the grate-with thelcomgbinationin a Stoker of two.,

chainstofthe otli'e`r, ser ies,4 thepupper sur- Vfaces ofthe chainsv ofone series lying in; a

different plane than the uupper surfaces of the chains ofthevfotherjseries,V and-meansy for simultaneously and fcontinuouslyfactuoneseries being operated at a 'different `speed thanjthe chains ofthe-otherseries]` V- -r i The-combination ifna stokergof two in-`dependent-series of grate chains mounted l onjan incline with' thechains ofonegserles arranged in alternationv `laterally, acrosstthegrate withy the chains ofg'the other series, vthe upper surfaceY ofthevrchains of'one series ating the chains' ofeach series,i the chains ofvlying in a' different planevthan'f the chains' o-f'the other series,saidi planes intersecting each other between the endsof the girate;

61. The combination in' Stoke'r of two w5independent series of gratechains, Ythe chains Volf` one series alternating with the'V chains oftheother series, and having' their upper sur-faces in a plane' thatintersects the plane ofthe upper Surfacesvof the chains of l. the otherseries. Y

7. The combinationin a Stoker of a series of grate chains'spaced apart,a second series of' grate chains each located in thev space between' twoof said first named' chains,

if means for supporting'the chains of one' seriesy so that the upperstretches thereof lie ina plane different from the plane of the otherseries, and meansk for act-uatingthe Vchains of one series independentlyof the" chains'oic the other Series.

of grate chains' each located inthe space vbetween two' of saidiirstnamed chains, said chains being mounted onan incline'with the lowerportions thereof having-a lesser inclination than' the upper partsthereof, and means for actuating the chains Vof' one seriesindependently ofA theL chains of the other series. f y

10. The combination inV a stoker of a seriesv ot grate chainsspacedapart, a second seriesl of' grate chains each loca-ted in the space.

l betweenvtwo of said first named chains, said chains 'being mounted onan incline with the lower portions thereof having a lesser inclinationthan the'upper partsfthereof, the chains of one series being arrangedwith f their upper surfacesy lyingin a different.

plane than the chains of the .other series,

and means for actuating'the chains of each series. c .Y l

11. The combination in a'stoker of a series of grate chains spacedapart', a secondY series" of gratechains each interposed in the spacebetween two of' said first named chains,said chains being mountedlon an'incline, means Y for supportingsaid chains with the upper surfaces ofthose of onel series projecting above the upper surfaces of those ofthe' other series adjacent the upper part'of'the grate'V and extendingbelow the .upper sur* faces ofthose of the otherseries adjacent thelower end of the grate, said chains having av lesser inclinel adjacentthe4 lower' partfof the grate, and means for actuating-.the cha-inset'.each series 'independently or the chains of the other' series;r Y p i12. The-conibin'ationin anstoker of a sei-ies4 of endless grate chainsspaced apart, asecond series of' grate chains each' interposed inthe'space between two "of said first named chains, a series-1 ofskids-'underlying said chains and supportingy the upper stretches rthereof with the upper surfaces of the chains` of one series lyingiin aydifferent planev thanl the upper surfaces of the'chains of the'otherseries, and means for actuating lthe chains of each series independentlyof the chains of the votherY series; Y

13.` The'coinbination-in a Stoker of a" series' of grate chains spacedlapart, a secondiseries of chains each located in' the' space betweentwof-of said first named chains,V a series of s'kids locatedbetw'ee'nthe 'upper and lower stretches of said `vchainsI and having angesadapted to support the. upper stretches of saidchain's, the flangeswhich support the chains of oneserie's lyingi'nl a'plane whichintersects the planeof the flanges which sup-vv port the chains oftheother series, andmeans forv actuatingthe chains of each series.

14: rIhe combinationy in aV Stoker of a pair of side' frances,ytransverse shafts extending between said' side frames, two' seriesl ofendV`` less chains supported by' said'- shafts and arranged with those'of oneiseries alternating with those of the' other series, transversebeams extending ybetween said'side frames between the 'upper and lowerstretches or said' chains, and skids supported' by said beams andhav-ing partsengagingsaid'chains to support the upper' stretches ofthose oit one series in-adifferent plane thany the upper stretches ofthose in theother' seri-es.

15. The combination" in a vStoker of a Vpair of sidel frames,transverse' shafts extending between said' side frames, two'rseries ofendlessfgr'ate chains 'supported by said shafts' and arrangedwith thoseof'one series alternating wththose of' the` other" series,V transversebeams' extending' between said' side frames between' the upper and lowerstretches or said-v chains, yskids supported by said beams andAV havingparts engaging-said chains to support the" upperstretches of" thoseotone Yseries in a1 dinerent-p1ans than the upper stretches of those inAthe other series', andy ak center? frame' interposed between two'ofsaid' chains for siipporting'said transverse'beanis and `extending'-`downwardly' therefrom to the foundation" or-'theistoken Y e s 16.-'Th'ecombination in" a'stokejrlota pair of, side frames, a lshaftvextending. between said side frames' atthe" forward' end of the Stoker,a Series "of Sprocket gears fixed ytosaid shaft,a secondseriesofVsprocket gears each rotatably' mounted said shaft 'between two of saidfirst named sprocket gears; a series reo ` Alo of endless chains mountedon said first named series of sprocket gears, a second series of endlesschains mounted on said second named series of sprocket gears, a secondshaft extending between said side frames at the rear end of thestoker,-a plurality of sprocket gears rotatably mounted on said secondnamed shaft Iand supporting the rear portions of said chains, a seriesof gears each v secured to one of said second named sprocket gears,V adriving shaftextending between said side frames, a series of pinionssecured to said driving shaft and meshed with said gears, means foractuating said driving shaft, and means for actuating said first 15named shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

LoYD R. sTowE; i"

